Aurangzeb ‘Alamgir and the Mughal Empire

'A landmark of patient archival scholarship and an utterly remarkable book, the product of thirty years hard labour in far-flung archives, dredging up a massive cache of previously unread and neglected primary sources. Munis Faruqui has written a calm, considered and beautifully nuanced reassessment of the most controversial and polarising figure in South Asian history, and he has succeeded in bringing a much-caricatured figure to life in a way no previous study has ever managed to do. It is ultimately a study in profound failure: by the end of his life, Alamgir Aurangzeb had undermined the military reputation of the Mughal Empire and brought the whole edifice to the point of political collapse. He regarded himself on his deathbed as abandoned by God. How a prince once known as a talented administrator, a pragmatic politician and remarkable general brought himself to this pass is made wonderfully clear by Faruqui's patient scholarship and the pellucid clarity of his writing. The result is a rich, learned and complex book, full of fresh insights. It is unquestionably one of the most important works on Indian history produced this century.' William Dalrymple, author of The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World
'Faruqui has written one of the most comprehensive books on the topic in almost a century. He changes our understanding of how the empire worked by highlighting the power and influence of the harem and the eunuchate. Also significant is author's treatment of the changing legacy of the emperor in the centuries after his death.' Ali Anooshahr, author of Slavery in the Early Mughal World: The Life and Thoughts of Jawhar Aftabachi
'This is the first comprehensive study respecting the most controversial emperor of the Mughal dynasty to have appeared in over a century. Based on a trove of little-used documents - the Akhbarat - in addition to abundant chronicles and other contemporary evidence, Faruqui succeeds in humanizing a ruler demonized by many as a cardboard cutout villain. The result is a balanced and much-needed corrective to the hysteria surrounding Aurangzeb's name.' Richard M. Eaton, author of India in the Persianate age: 1000–1765
'Faruqui's book engagingly advances an insightful and persuasive new interpretation of the life and career of Aurangzeb 'Alamgir, the highly controversial, final 'great' Mughal Emperor. Based on unique archival research, Faruqui's work will transform scholarly and popular understanding of this entire era and its subsequent historiography.' Michael H. Fisher, author of A Short History of the Mughal Empire
'Learned and compelling in equal measure, Aurangzeb 'Alamgir and the Mughal Empire sparkles with fresh insights and fascinating new details, offering a richer, more complete picture of one of India's most controversial Mughal emperors.' Manu S. Pillai, author of Gods, Guns and Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity
'Faruqui offers a deep dive into the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir, one of India's most influential and debated kings, based on impeccable archival work. His book is essential reading for anyone interested in how political power was cultivated and lost in early modern India.' Audrey Truschke, author of India: 5,000 Years of History on the Subcontinent